United Nations resolution for Moratorium on death penalty and its implications on counter terrorism

Abstract

Death Penalty is one of the most common punishments that have existed throughout history and was considered an effective measure to reduce criminal activities. Capital Punishment is being viewed as a violation of humanistic approach which guides the foundational infrastructure of International Organization like United Nations establishing regimes on the grounds that negate violation of right to life. United Nations Resolution 62/149 calls for removal of Death Penalty, or imposing moratorium on death penalty as part of its adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Nevertheless, there are domestic compulsions which may push the states to lift moratorium on Death penalty despite their adoption of UDHR and considering right to life as fundamental human right established in their constitutional law. There are two different approaches to view this dichotomy, on one hand adoption of moratorium on death penalty is considered humane, while on the other hand it is a burden on a state’s counter terrorism mechanism which requires a decisive action against the terrorists. The researcher has conducted a qualitative and descriptive research. Both primary and secondary data has been utilized in order to draw results about the impact of moratorium on death penalty in the context of terrorism specifically in Pakistan. The research concludes that lifting of moratorium on death penalty and establishing death penalty as a punishment to deter crime and violence has not proven successful as there are several other factors that are also crucial in reduction of violence.